dearly

adverb

dear·​ly ˈdir-lē How to pronounce dearly (audio)
1
: with affection : fondly
2
: heartily, earnestly
prayed so dearly for peace
3
: at a high rate or price
paid dearly for the error

Examples of dearly in a Sentence

I would dearly love to see them again. He dearly wanted to believe that it was true.
Recent Examples on the Web Rusesabagina's ties to the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change, a group that opposes Kagame's rule, have cost him dearly. Tinbete Ermyas, NPR, 20 May 2024 But their inability to deliver in clutch moments cost them dearly in a 4-2 loss at T-Mobile Park. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for dearly 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dearly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dearly was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near dearly

Cite this Entry

“Dearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dearly. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.

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